Sunday Gravy: Can Yankees overcome loss of Aaron Judge?

The Yankees will be without Aaron Judge for a while after he was hit on the wrist by a pitch in Thursday’s win over the Royals.

The Yankees will be without Aaron Judge for a while after he was hit on the wrist by a pitch in Thursday’s win over the Royals.

Photo: Frank Franklin II / Associated Press

Photo: Frank Franklin II / Associated Press

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The Yankees will be without Aaron Judge for a while after he was hit on the wrist by a pitch in Thursday’s win over the Royals.

The Yankees will be without Aaron Judge for a while after he was hit on the wrist by a pitch in Thursday’s win over the Royals.

Photo: Frank Franklin II / Associated Press

Sunday Gravy: Can Yankees overcome loss of Aaron Judge?

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My son may have just turned 3, but he has already learned the art of back-seat driving from his dad. He yelled from his car seat the other day that we’re going in the wrong direction — to my parent’s house.

Yes, I had gone in a slightly different direction due to traffic on I-95. But my son was having none of it.

** The Judge’s Chambers won’t be in session for the next month after Aaron Judge was struck on the right wrist during Thursday’s win over the Kansas City Royals. How will the Yankees survive? Will they make a move for another outfielder?

Maybe. But the Bronx Bombers face the worst schedule in the majors in August. If they cannot make up ground on the Boston Red Sox next month, it won’t be only because Judge went down. Injuries are always a part of the game.

Although I do wonder what Jacoby Ellsbury is thinking right about now. He still hasn’t started baseball activities due to an assortment of injuries. So he won’t be back before Judge, if at all. There are two years remaining on that albatross of a contract.

** Gary Sanchez apologized for not hustling on a passed ball on the last play of Monday’s loss to Tampa Bay. He did end up back on the disabled list and will be back probably after Judge returns.

But when a similar incident happens again, and it will, it will be interesting to see how Aaron Boone handles it. He became the manager because the Yankee hierarchy decided someone was needed to relate better to the players than Joe Girardi had.

** This is minor compared to what continues to go on across town. Talk about a severe lack of communication within the chain of command. I have to imagine there will not only be a new general manager for the New York Mets, but also a new manager. This disaster is not Mickey Callaway’s fault, but unless he is the one the Wilpons feel can lead the franchise through the rebuilding process, I can’t see how he returns.

On another note, isn’t it about time the Mets start to allow players back on the WFAN airwaves? It’s been five seasons since WFAN dropped the Mets and picked up the Yankees. Bad blood still exists? This team can use all the good publicity it can get now.

** As impressive as this Oakland Athletics’ run has been, and even if the team wins a wild card game, they need to win more than one playoff series during the Billy Ball era to be taken seriously.

** I’m still getting used to the idea that this will be the last PGA Championship held in August. The last major championship will now become the second when it moves to May next year. That means nearly a nine-month layoff between the 2019 British Open and the 2020 Masters — all because the PGA Tour wants to be done with its FedExCup playoffs by Labor Day. We’ll see if it works.

** Speaking of the PGA, can Tiger Woods contend in a second straight major? I still think he will win a major. As we saw Sunday, Woods still has the goods. But you also saw glimpses of his mortality when he held the lead briefly on the back nine.

Woods NEVER made a double bogey with the lead like he did at Carnoustie. Also, none of his 14 majors have been in come-from-behind fashion. So Tiger is going to have to learn from this and win in a way he has never done before. No one is intimidated by him anymore — see Francesco Molinari — but he still is the No. 1 attraction in golf, bar none.

** Our condolences go out to family and friends of Tony Sparano, a well-respected head and assistant coach in the NFL who passed away unexpectedly last Sunday at 56. The West Haven native led the University of New Haven to the Division II national championship game in 1997, then began his NFL career two years later. He was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins and interim coach for the Oakland Raiders. He will be sorely missed.

** I don’t care if Tom Brady was 50, I still wouldn’t pick against the New England Patriots in the AFC East. And I won’t until he, and Bill Belichick, both retire.

** Dwight Howard joining the Washington Wizards? Carmelo Anthony likely going to the Houston Rockets? Neither move puts either team in the NBA Finals. In fact, I found Shaq overcoming his fear of sharks during Shark Week much more interesting.

** The contract extension Kevin Love received from the Cavaliers reeks of what the Miami Heat gave Chris Bosh when LeBron James left. Not sure Love is a guy to build around at $30 million per. It won’t keep Cleveland from returning to the lottery.

** Looking back, should Central Florida been in the four-team college football playoff? Yes. Does that mean the AAC deserves a regular spot at the national championship table? No. Not unless it expands to eight teams. The league still has a long way to go to prove itself.

** We are less than a month away from the start of high school preseason practice. The regular season begins Sept. 6. Mark your calendars.

** Almost a month away from sending my son to preschool. Any helpful tips are welcome — and maybe we will share a couple next week.

joseph.morelli

@hearstmediact.com; @nhrJoeMorelli

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